What do you think?
Rate this book
The Halloween Man
A mysterious New England village. A stolen child. An ancient ritual. A legend of shadows. A terrifying birthright. Who holds the key to the chilling mystery of Stonehaven and its desolate woods — and what unspeakable creature remains trapped within its summer mansion?From New York Times bestselling author Douglas Clegg comes a riveting, edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller of “overwhelming love and devastating terror.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
185 people are currently reading
1169 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 29, 2014
This book was a good read with a new spin on an old story. It was loaded with flashbacks, which is something I normally have mixed feelings about. Sometimes they can work well and at other times they seem to jar the continuity of the plot. This time it did both. As the plot neared the climax, I understood why the author chose to use the technique as heavily as he did and it all came together nicely.
I enjoyed the story more when the flashback mode switched over to the present, although there definitely were times I was drawn into the story of the characters when they were younger in another time and place. It definitely was necessary to give the background information to fully appreciate the impact of the ending and this method was preferable to an information dump which really bores me to tears.
There were times the plot was gripping and other during which I felt a little confused. It might just be me, but time jumping in a plot has that effect on me sometimes. Maybe I wasn't concentrating enough on certain parts of this.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and I would recommend it- especially at this time of the year (near Halloween, of course). It was atmospheric and professional. It is clear that the author knows his trade and develops a complex idea in a convoluted, yet polished, manner. The trip through time that retells the "why we are here now" phase which takes over the plot is a matter of personal preference. It mostly worked for me and I enjoyed this read.
I enjoyed the story more when the flashback mode switched over to the present, although there definitely were times I was drawn into the story of the characters when they were younger in another time and place. It definitely was necessary to give the background information to fully appreciate the impact of the ending and this method was preferable to an information dump which really bores me to tears.
There were times the plot was gripping and other during which I felt a little confused. It might just be me, but time jumping in a plot has that effect on me sometimes. Maybe I wasn't concentrating enough on certain parts of this.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and I would recommend it- especially at this time of the year (near Halloween, of course). It was atmospheric and professional. It is clear that the author knows his trade and develops a complex idea in a convoluted, yet polished, manner. The trip through time that retells the "why we are here now" phase which takes over the plot is a matter of personal preference. It mostly worked for me and I enjoyed this read.
October 26, 2018
This is the least scary book I've read this Halloween season.
It's not creepy, nor is it suspenseful. I kept reading mainly to find out why a man kidnapped a little boy, and what he planned on doing with him. What I really learned is that religious nut-jobs, whether they worship God or something a little more evil, are all pretty boring.
It's not creepy, nor is it suspenseful. I kept reading mainly to find out why a man kidnapped a little boy, and what he planned on doing with him. What I really learned is that religious nut-jobs, whether they worship God or something a little more evil, are all pretty boring.
October 21, 2022
I chose this at random, without reading anything about it whatsoever. I was expecting a Halloween slasher judging by the title. Nope!
A man kidnaps a kid from a cult that believes he is the Messiah. They head off on a road trip back to his hometown. Then the story starts to jump around -A LOT- between multiple timelines, places and different characters. Initially, I wasn't a fan of how often this was happening, but, I stopped caring when the story started to get It's hooks into me...
A supernatural, coming-of-age, apocalyptic, dark fantasy...romance... kind of. Clegg knows how to tell a story, that's for sure. It's definitely not something that I would recommend to everyone, as there's a lot of religion/spirituality/gnosticism involved.
One other issue I had was the amount of micro-chapters within chapters - There's just far too many. Not my usual kind of thing, but, It was quite unique, the writing was good, and I enjoyed it.
3.5 Stars.
A man kidnaps a kid from a cult that believes he is the Messiah. They head off on a road trip back to his hometown. Then the story starts to jump around -A LOT- between multiple timelines, places and different characters. Initially, I wasn't a fan of how often this was happening, but, I stopped caring when the story started to get It's hooks into me...
A supernatural, coming-of-age, apocalyptic, dark fantasy...romance... kind of. Clegg knows how to tell a story, that's for sure. It's definitely not something that I would recommend to everyone, as there's a lot of religion/spirituality/gnosticism involved.
One other issue I had was the amount of micro-chapters within chapters - There's just far too many. Not my usual kind of thing, but, It was quite unique, the writing was good, and I enjoyed it.
3.5 Stars.
October 23, 2016
I've been meaning to read this one for quite some time, and figured Halloween was the perfect season.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story, but then it breaks off into a couple of different "flashback" sequences..... While one of these helped shed light on the current story, the other seem too far removed to be on any interest to me, when I wanted to get back to the main storyline.
Going with a middle of the road rating for this one.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story, but then it breaks off into a couple of different "flashback" sequences..... While one of these helped shed light on the current story, the other seem too far removed to be on any interest to me, when I wanted to get back to the main storyline.
Going with a middle of the road rating for this one.
October 30, 2022
“It was drizzling and mysterious at the beginning of our journey.” —On The Road by Jack Kerouac
So begins Douglas Clegg's "Halloween Man," as a young boy is kidnapped from a south Texas trailer park at gunpoint by a leatherclad man and driven away in the rain. This incredibly tense and scary scene is followed by something like this:
"You Satan?" the kid asks his assailant.
"Could be," is the reply.
"You in a bad mood or something?"
"Kid, I'm always in a bad mood."
"Your car is a shitkicker, mister."
"Say, kid, you don't mind that some stranger put you in his car and is driving you someplace you have no idea of?"
"You're the one with the gun, not me, Boss."
This is no ordinary 12-year-old. Evidently, he has messianic powers to raise the dead and heal the sick. He and his kidnapper are on the road to the New England town of Stonehaven to confront an ancient evil, and the name of this highway is Damnation.
While horror cinema in the 90s largely consisted of a meta slasher resurgence after the success of "Scream," horror literature was still innovating and pushing boundaries. I'd say "The Halloween Man" falls squarely in that tradition, but it has not left a mark on the collective zeitgeist as some of its 90s contemporaries.
I've been told that Douglas Clegg's style could be one of the reasons, as he can be a little challenging at times. This is the first novel of his that I've read, and I think I now understand what people mean when they say this. The story does not follow a linear progression, and there are frequent extended flashbacks, sometimes flashbacks within flashbacks. Scenes transition so that you are not immediately sure if we are now in the present or the past. Diary entries and book excerpts are mixed into the main timeline. Side stories are told from various points of view. Multiple characters are introduced, and then we don't see them again for just long enough that we've forgotten who they were when they factor into the story again. We get hints about the true nature of our characters or about what happened in a particular scene that are often misleading. The language becomes purposefully vague to obscure what happens in key moments.
Clegg was clearly influenced by late 19th/early 20th Century writers. I find this to be overall a good thing, as it weaves a puzzle for the reader to unwind, but I can definitely understand where many may grow frustrated with his narrative choices. This is not a writer that holds your hand for the duration of the journey. In fact, he tends to purposefully lead you into dark places and then leave you stranded to find your own way.
My main complaint is that he does tend to get stuck in loops. While he'll skim over important plot developments or be stubbornly ambiguous about others, he'll also drive a point home until you grow nauseated. We get repetitive scene after scene of descriptions about how one character feels. Yes, the main character wants to get out of the small podunk town he grew up in. We get it. Yes, he and his girlfriend are ambivalent about having a baby. We get it already. Yes, the bad people in this book are really bad people. Can we move on with the story?
This seems to particularly be the case when it comes to how Clegg depicts carnal relationships. OK, she's got a nice rack. Yes, we know he wants to get her in bed--you don't need to tell us in multiple obscene ways. No, no, you're back to talking about her chest again, Douglas, we're past that now. Oh, now your talking about her lips--well that's different at least. OK, you're back to her breasts again. Do you need some time alone, dude?
All of the buggery has a purpose, because you're supposed to see the difference between lust and love, and how evil thoughts invite evil into your soul. But again, Clegg doesn't seem to know when to quit, while at the same time, he lets the reader formulate their own conclusions about so many other things. He runs when he should walk, and then comes to a complete stop when he should run.
Still, I think I understood and appreciated what he was trying to do. And for the most part, the author has a lot of interesting things to say. This is a particularly thought-provoking study of the nature of evil. Does evil come from Satan or from a God that encompasses the whole spectrum of goodness and badness? What does this evil look like if it also comes from God? Does this explain why God has not eradicated evil if God is all good? What's the significance of death and resurrection in various cultures? What exactly was the relationship between Judas and Jesus? How has the oral tradition changed our understanding of ancient knowledge and wisdom about good vs evil over the millennia? Why so many similarities in the varieties of religious experience throughout the centuries? Those of you into religious studies, theology, and philosophy might have a deeper experience with this book than those without such a background, but anyone can pick up on these ideas and run wild.
At this point, you're probably wondering why this book is called "The Halloween Man." Well, that's part of the overall puzzle, you see. You can use the questions I have posed above to guide you in getting to the meat of this highly philosophical title for yourself, but to say any more would be to enter spoilers. This is not necessarily a trick-or-treating, jack-o'-lantern, ghost-and-goblin, leaves-a-falling holiday celebration. It's a dark and brutal questioning of how much we really know about our respective religious beliefs.
In conclusion, this book won't be for everyone. But there's a lot for the careful reader to appreciate, and more than enough gore, eerie atmosphere, suspense, quirky humor, and overall fun mayhem for fans of thrillers and horrors.
Therefore, I give this novel 3.5 stars out of five, rounded to 4. I'm definitely interested in exploring more from Douglas Clegg.
So begins Douglas Clegg's "Halloween Man," as a young boy is kidnapped from a south Texas trailer park at gunpoint by a leatherclad man and driven away in the rain. This incredibly tense and scary scene is followed by something like this:
"You Satan?" the kid asks his assailant.
"Could be," is the reply.
"You in a bad mood or something?"
"Kid, I'm always in a bad mood."
"Your car is a shitkicker, mister."
"Say, kid, you don't mind that some stranger put you in his car and is driving you someplace you have no idea of?"
"You're the one with the gun, not me, Boss."
This is no ordinary 12-year-old. Evidently, he has messianic powers to raise the dead and heal the sick. He and his kidnapper are on the road to the New England town of Stonehaven to confront an ancient evil, and the name of this highway is Damnation.
While horror cinema in the 90s largely consisted of a meta slasher resurgence after the success of "Scream," horror literature was still innovating and pushing boundaries. I'd say "The Halloween Man" falls squarely in that tradition, but it has not left a mark on the collective zeitgeist as some of its 90s contemporaries.
I've been told that Douglas Clegg's style could be one of the reasons, as he can be a little challenging at times. This is the first novel of his that I've read, and I think I now understand what people mean when they say this. The story does not follow a linear progression, and there are frequent extended flashbacks, sometimes flashbacks within flashbacks. Scenes transition so that you are not immediately sure if we are now in the present or the past. Diary entries and book excerpts are mixed into the main timeline. Side stories are told from various points of view. Multiple characters are introduced, and then we don't see them again for just long enough that we've forgotten who they were when they factor into the story again. We get hints about the true nature of our characters or about what happened in a particular scene that are often misleading. The language becomes purposefully vague to obscure what happens in key moments.
Clegg was clearly influenced by late 19th/early 20th Century writers. I find this to be overall a good thing, as it weaves a puzzle for the reader to unwind, but I can definitely understand where many may grow frustrated with his narrative choices. This is not a writer that holds your hand for the duration of the journey. In fact, he tends to purposefully lead you into dark places and then leave you stranded to find your own way.
My main complaint is that he does tend to get stuck in loops. While he'll skim over important plot developments or be stubbornly ambiguous about others, he'll also drive a point home until you grow nauseated. We get repetitive scene after scene of descriptions about how one character feels. Yes, the main character wants to get out of the small podunk town he grew up in. We get it. Yes, he and his girlfriend are ambivalent about having a baby. We get it already. Yes, the bad people in this book are really bad people. Can we move on with the story?
This seems to particularly be the case when it comes to how Clegg depicts carnal relationships. OK, she's got a nice rack. Yes, we know he wants to get her in bed--you don't need to tell us in multiple obscene ways. No, no, you're back to talking about her chest again, Douglas, we're past that now. Oh, now your talking about her lips--well that's different at least. OK, you're back to her breasts again. Do you need some time alone, dude?
All of the buggery has a purpose, because you're supposed to see the difference between lust and love, and how evil thoughts invite evil into your soul. But again, Clegg doesn't seem to know when to quit, while at the same time, he lets the reader formulate their own conclusions about so many other things. He runs when he should walk, and then comes to a complete stop when he should run.
Still, I think I understood and appreciated what he was trying to do. And for the most part, the author has a lot of interesting things to say. This is a particularly thought-provoking study of the nature of evil. Does evil come from Satan or from a God that encompasses the whole spectrum of goodness and badness? What does this evil look like if it also comes from God? Does this explain why God has not eradicated evil if God is all good? What's the significance of death and resurrection in various cultures? What exactly was the relationship between Judas and Jesus? How has the oral tradition changed our understanding of ancient knowledge and wisdom about good vs evil over the millennia? Why so many similarities in the varieties of religious experience throughout the centuries? Those of you into religious studies, theology, and philosophy might have a deeper experience with this book than those without such a background, but anyone can pick up on these ideas and run wild.
At this point, you're probably wondering why this book is called "The Halloween Man." Well, that's part of the overall puzzle, you see. You can use the questions I have posed above to guide you in getting to the meat of this highly philosophical title for yourself, but to say any more would be to enter spoilers. This is not necessarily a trick-or-treating, jack-o'-lantern, ghost-and-goblin, leaves-a-falling holiday celebration. It's a dark and brutal questioning of how much we really know about our respective religious beliefs.
In conclusion, this book won't be for everyone. But there's a lot for the careful reader to appreciate, and more than enough gore, eerie atmosphere, suspense, quirky humor, and overall fun mayhem for fans of thrillers and horrors.
Therefore, I give this novel 3.5 stars out of five, rounded to 4. I'm definitely interested in exploring more from Douglas Clegg.
February 5, 2017
this was so weird...
December 13, 2014
This story takes place in the small New England fishing village of Stonehaven. There are many dark and mysterious things awaiting this 15 year old boy name Stony Crawford. Stony is in love with Lourdes and they are going to have a child. Lourdes is supposed to meet Stony the next day so they can run away together. Something terrible happens to Lourdes and that never happens. The story takes off from there. Stolen at birth, Stony finds out from Nora(the tale spinner)that his parents are not really his parents. Stony ask Nora who his mother is but she will not tell him. Stony must find out who she is. There are many evil secret that are hidden in this little village. Stony Crawford holds the key to the power of the chilling mystery. Clegg does a nice job of weaving the story together with flash back from the past to the present.
November 9, 2017
Not a bad book, but a little bit of a struggle to finish. I did like that the plot was imaginative and strange, but the constant back and forth between time periods felt a little off. I thought the book started off strong, but I definitely started going "mmmkay" as it carried on. I felt like it waa trying to do too much with the story, and would have been a stronger overall if the plot was a little tighter. I don't regret reading it but I admit that I was hoping for a four star read.
October 12, 2021
I think i have read too many great books recently and this felt somehow average, didn't love it, didn't hate it either.
August 27, 2017
4.5 stars for The Halloween Man. So close to 5, but just a couple of niggles. One criteria I'm developing for 5 star reads is a desire to reread, and I certainly have that with this, my first Douglas Clegg book. I already plan on busting this one out next fall.
The horror and excellent writing combined with an excellent historical concept and emotional depth make this book stand out among the many great horror novels I have read in the last few years. I highly recommend this to any fans of horror, especially around October. While not overly reliant on Halloween imagery, the harvest principles, celebrations of death, and the doorway between worlds all play a part.
What kept this from 5 stars?
Anyhow, those were the type of niggles that keep me from rounding up to 5, and I still enjoyed the heck out of this one. Thank you, Douglas Clegg. I look forward to your other work.
The horror and excellent writing combined with an excellent historical concept and emotional depth make this book stand out among the many great horror novels I have read in the last few years. I highly recommend this to any fans of horror, especially around October. While not overly reliant on Halloween imagery, the harvest principles, celebrations of death, and the doorway between worlds all play a part.
What kept this from 5 stars?
Anyhow, those were the type of niggles that keep me from rounding up to 5, and I still enjoyed the heck out of this one. Thank you, Douglas Clegg. I look forward to your other work.
October 28, 2016
Set In New England Square - Halloween Bingo
This book took a while to get going. In the end, it is a story of good vs. evil and supernatural terror. The book flashes between the past and the present: Stony's life as a teenager and then his life as an adult trying to make things right. Some pretty dreadful things happen and this book is pretty gory.
I finished this about a week ago, and unfortunately, I can't think of much else to say..
I like it okay, but I wasn't thrilled.
This book took a while to get going. In the end, it is a story of good vs. evil and supernatural terror. The book flashes between the past and the present: Stony's life as a teenager and then his life as an adult trying to make things right. Some pretty dreadful things happen and this book is pretty gory.
I finished this about a week ago, and unfortunately, I can't think of much else to say..
I like it okay, but I wasn't thrilled.
October 31, 2016
"All human tragedies are tragedies of innocence waking."
The Halloween Man, by Douglas Clegg, is far from what you might expect from its title. This is not a straight horror novel w/ a creepy "Babadook"-type character cast in shadow, come out to reek its revenge on Halloween night. Rather this is a coming-of-age tale, one that is deceptively woven into a narrative that can be a bit challenging, until you stop fighting it and allow it to lead you where it wills.
The novel itself is jarringly beautiful, a tragic love story that could be on par w/ Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, and Clegg chooses wisely to let character drive the narrative versus plot with this one. Yet there are quite a few layers of mystery to be unwound, with a dark mythology surrounding the town of Stonehaven and an even darker past that ends up ruling the present or future.
"All you can do is look down the road and decide if it curves and if you'll take the curve."
One of the challenges with this novel is that eighty percent of it is told in flashback, the story beginning and ending with a bookend of "the present." It felt a bit jarring at times, but once you decide you'll take the curve, the story becomes something more than what happened in the past, and becomes the lives of characters you grow to love.
While there are certainly elements of horror here, I found this more of an enchanting tragedy, a journey I'm glad I was able to take. Quite non-traditional, go into this one with an open mind and you'll be pleasantly surprised with what it has to say.
The Halloween Man, by Douglas Clegg, is far from what you might expect from its title. This is not a straight horror novel w/ a creepy "Babadook"-type character cast in shadow, come out to reek its revenge on Halloween night. Rather this is a coming-of-age tale, one that is deceptively woven into a narrative that can be a bit challenging, until you stop fighting it and allow it to lead you where it wills.
The novel itself is jarringly beautiful, a tragic love story that could be on par w/ Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, and Clegg chooses wisely to let character drive the narrative versus plot with this one. Yet there are quite a few layers of mystery to be unwound, with a dark mythology surrounding the town of Stonehaven and an even darker past that ends up ruling the present or future.
"All you can do is look down the road and decide if it curves and if you'll take the curve."
One of the challenges with this novel is that eighty percent of it is told in flashback, the story beginning and ending with a bookend of "the present." It felt a bit jarring at times, but once you decide you'll take the curve, the story becomes something more than what happened in the past, and becomes the lives of characters you grow to love.
While there are certainly elements of horror here, I found this more of an enchanting tragedy, a journey I'm glad I was able to take. Quite non-traditional, go into this one with an open mind and you'll be pleasantly surprised with what it has to say.
December 30, 2021
И като съм я почнал.
За мен Дъглас Клег е един несправедливо подценяван автор на комерсиален хорър. Даже смятам е по-добър от Маккамън, но това съм го казвал и друг път.
Хелоуинският човек експлоатира тропа за древно зло в малко градче, но Клег успява доста приятно да изненада читателя. Книгата ми се нарежда до Пътеката на Мъртвите на Стивън Ъруин.
Макар да има доста хорър елементи, романът е написан с размах на древногръцка трагедия и по-скоро ти къса сърцето, от колкото плаши. Друг бонус е шлифованото от десетки романи писане на Клег, както и очарователното количество кофи л*йна, които успява да сипе на главния герой, за да го натика в онова съзряване, ползващо се за лайтмотив в подобни книги.
Като форма, имаме голяма ретроспективна част и то с ретроспекции в ретроспекциите, което тук не дразни, за разлика от много други произведения по принцип.
В едно рибарско селце в Нова Англия нормалния живот е обгърнат в истории. Всеки си има такава, дори селският идиот, и нито една не звучи разумно, а и всички се въртят около едно семейство и Хелоуин. Един мъж отвлича дете с интересни способности и ще го закара точно там, там където историите на двамата ще се преплетат с тези на останалите.
Много добро попадение беше тази книга. Още един бонус – приказките на Нора (нещо като билкарка-отшелница) могат да ти изкарат ангелите в съвсем класически Грим стил.
За мен Дъглас Клег е един несправедливо подценяван автор на комерсиален хорър. Даже смятам е по-добър от Маккамън, но това съм го казвал и друг път.
Хелоуинският човек експлоатира тропа за древно зло в малко градче, но Клег успява доста приятно да изненада читателя. Книгата ми се нарежда до Пътеката на Мъртвите на Стивън Ъруин.
Макар да има доста хорър елементи, романът е написан с размах на древногръцка трагедия и по-скоро ти къса сърцето, от колкото плаши. Друг бонус е шлифованото от десетки романи писане на Клег, както и очарователното количество кофи л*йна, които успява да сипе на главния герой, за да го натика в онова съзряване, ползващо се за лайтмотив в подобни книги.
Като форма, имаме голяма ретроспективна част и то с ретроспекции в ретроспекциите, което тук не дразни, за разлика от много други произведения по принцип.
В едно рибарско селце в Нова Англия нормалния живот е обгърнат в истории. Всеки си има такава, дори селският идиот, и нито една не звучи разумно, а и всички се въртят около едно семейство и Хелоуин. Един мъж отвлича дете с интересни способности и ще го закара точно там, там където историите на двамата ще се преплетат с тези на останалите.
Много добро попадение беше тази книга. Още един бонус – приказките на Нора (нещо като билкарка-отшелница) могат да ти изкарат ангелите в съвсем класически Грим стил.
February 16, 2011
This is the second Douglas Clegg book I've read. I've been interested in his work after finding The Nightmare Chronicles in a thrift book store and was lucky to find this one as well.
This is very much unlike your usual horror fare. It's told is mostly flashbacks and tells of the childhood of Stony Crawford. Much of the story isn't actually scary at all, but helps focus on characters and plot development. (However, I felt that there was a tad too much filler sex for my taste.) It seems to focus quite a bit on developing the characters and their relationships rather than having a murder scene every other page.
What I admire is Douglas Clegg's ability as a writer. I felt that this story was very unique and much different from any other horror book or film. Much like The Nightmare Chronicles, there are a few scenes that are beautifully disturbing and images that are unlike anything you've ever witnessed. There is quite a bit of mystery and romance and a major plot twist at the end which I would've never seen coming. While reading this book, I was very entertained and honestly had a lot of trouble putting it down. While it isn't all that suspenseful, it was very fast-paced.
This is very much unlike your usual horror fare. It's told is mostly flashbacks and tells of the childhood of Stony Crawford. Much of the story isn't actually scary at all, but helps focus on characters and plot development. (However, I felt that there was a tad too much filler sex for my taste.) It seems to focus quite a bit on developing the characters and their relationships rather than having a murder scene every other page.
What I admire is Douglas Clegg's ability as a writer. I felt that this story was very unique and much different from any other horror book or film. Much like The Nightmare Chronicles, there are a few scenes that are beautifully disturbing and images that are unlike anything you've ever witnessed. There is quite a bit of mystery and romance and a major plot twist at the end which I would've never seen coming. While reading this book, I was very entertained and honestly had a lot of trouble putting it down. While it isn't all that suspenseful, it was very fast-paced.
October 15, 2016
The sections, chapters, and breaks in the book hamper the flow with an unnecessary excess of pauses that disrupt the pacing; rather than neatly quilting they become knotted and messy (also inconsistent- all the chapters have titles except for 15 and 26). The characters are lame and one dimensional, especially Van who is essentially a walking libido. The details and descriptions are vague (Moonfire- something that I'm still not certain what it is exactly), conflicting (empty eyes filled with tears), lazy (some arbitrary large number used to "enhance" a detail, example: a thousand children laughing), repetitive and sloppy ("red red poppies" "like fireflies, no, like burning wasps"). This book could have really used more editing.
November 9, 2014
I am not a quitter, but I came real close with this book. My curiosity alone is what kept me going to finish this book. I have read other books by Douglas Clegg, and I have enjoyed them. This one? Nope. I would not recommend.
January 22, 2018
1.5 stars is probably my true rating.
June 27, 2019
The start of the book through the middle was solid. But the last half....what on earth....I have no idea what I just read.
November 6, 2022
Just Kind of Okay
I read this book because of the title as I was looking for something spooky to read for Halloween. Parts of the story were pretty good; however, there were other sections that I found really hard to follow. I also found several inconsistencies within the story. For example, on one page it says that the protagonist's father is dead and two pages later it says he's down at the bar drinking with his buddies and it wasn't some sort of flashback situation. I kept turning the pages back and forth trying to figure out what I had missed and finally, I just let it go. I also found a lot of grammatical or editing errors, more than just the rare oopsie that can be found in most books. This novel is definitely dark, so be forewarned if that is not your thing. This is far from the worst book I have ever read but also not even close to the best. I would definitely be open to giving the author another try.
I read this book because of the title as I was looking for something spooky to read for Halloween. Parts of the story were pretty good; however, there were other sections that I found really hard to follow. I also found several inconsistencies within the story. For example, on one page it says that the protagonist's father is dead and two pages later it says he's down at the bar drinking with his buddies and it wasn't some sort of flashback situation. I kept turning the pages back and forth trying to figure out what I had missed and finally, I just let it go. I also found a lot of grammatical or editing errors, more than just the rare oopsie that can be found in most books. This novel is definitely dark, so be forewarned if that is not your thing. This is far from the worst book I have ever read but also not even close to the best. I would definitely be open to giving the author another try.
October 29, 2008
this book was really a plesant surprise. it was so much better that what I expected!
in the middle of the nigth a kid profhet is kidnaped from is cult. the reasons ofr that are somewere in the past of the kdnaper. and we are brogth back to the birth and childhood of stony crawford in a small new englad village. He always felt he was different but its only after he falls inlove whit the beutifull and young lourdes maria that all hell breaks lose around him.
I really liked the way ths story is spined, in front of my eyes until the final disclosure. but I do have to warn possible readers that this book is more a paranormal thriller that un horror book
in the middle of the nigth a kid profhet is kidnaped from is cult. the reasons ofr that are somewere in the past of the kdnaper. and we are brogth back to the birth and childhood of stony crawford in a small new englad village. He always felt he was different but its only after he falls inlove whit the beutifull and young lourdes maria that all hell breaks lose around him.
I really liked the way ths story is spined, in front of my eyes until the final disclosure. but I do have to warn possible readers that this book is more a paranormal thriller that un horror book
August 29, 2012
I just finished this and I think it was my favorite book ever. Instead of reviewing this book I'm just going to say that Douglas Clegg is the best horror writer out there. I mean, this book was beyond unconventional horror. It was brilliant, suspenseful, intricate, complex, etc, etc, etc. It was all over the place but stayed right in your face the whole time. That's as much, possibly more, than I even want to say about it. Just read it.
October 4, 2012
This book is genuinely chilling. A good boy meets a good girl, and they love each other. They make their first child, which should be pure and blessed, no matter how accidental the conception, but the existence of the child brings all the old secrets out into the open. This is what happens when a good, sweet child finds himself manipulated by corrupt humans into the presence of the oldest of evils, discovering that the evil that he would escape has been worked into his very genetics.
November 12, 2010
Great book.
November 5, 2020
I already reviewed this on amazon, and I was just going to copy and paste my review here, but I'm deciding, for some reason, to be impatient and write a second review here. So, if you see my review on amazon and it says something that doesn't correspond to what I said here, my bad.
So, what did I think of The Halloween Man by Douglas Clegg? Well, unfortunately, I gave it only 2 1/2 stars, and I'm rounding it up to three here on goodreads and amazon.
The book starts off very promising. A man steals a child and we are slowly figuring out why. Then, I don't know how far into the book we have to go, but we are introduced to a flashback that takes up three quarters of the book. So, basically the book changes. It's no longer is it about a man stealing a kid from a cult and it changes to a long coming of age story that I didn't really see coming. Now, people who know me will be saying, "But Nick, don't you LOVE Coming of Age stories???" To that I say YEAH! I LOVE Coming of Age stories.
It took me a awhile to figure out that we were in for a ride at that point. I was excited, buckling into my couch, because my couch has seatbelts for some reason, and was getting ready for a rollercoaster of a ride... then the story got REALLY freaking BORING! Half of the book is just typical kid stuff really. I was so bored that I unclicked my couch's seatbelt and let out a long yawn as the narrator went on and on about stuff I didn't really care about. Part of me was like, "Go back to the Man who stole the kid from the cult," but alas...
So, I'm interjecting here in the middle of my review to give you the flashback's synopsis... so... here ya go!
The Flashback part of the story is about Stoney, a boy in an abusive home, in a crummy town, whose only highlight in his life is a girl named Lourdes. Stoney has only one real true friend, and that's a old lady named Nora, who everyone in town thinks is a witch because she lives out in the woods. Nora gives warnings through cryptic stories and, in all honestly, was the best character in this freaking book! That's all you really need to know about the long-trifling flashback, that doesn't become important til your deep into the book.
I started this in October, hoping for a good Halloween read... This book has very little to do with Halloween, let me tell ya... You learn what the Halloween Man is later in the book, and then it isn't mentioned again... seriously! I mean, there is a moment the says something about it, but Nora's interesting story is thrown to the wayside. And the conclusion of this book is convoluted! Well, maybe not... but I was so bored at this point I just wanted it to be over with.
Now, with all the negatives out of the way, let me quickly say a few positive things about this book.
The writing is really, really good! That's why this is a two and a half star book for me. Douglas Clegg is a fabulous writer and I liked the way he tells a story. I can tell he has a lot of pros and I WILL be giving him a second chance. I think I'm going to read his coming of age story Neverland next, when I get around to it.
Overall, just to reiterate, Mr. Clegg is an amazing story teller, really! This story in particular just didn't work for me. I was bored and even though it had one or two heart pounding moments, it was overall boring and a very tiring book to get through.
So, what did I think of The Halloween Man by Douglas Clegg? Well, unfortunately, I gave it only 2 1/2 stars, and I'm rounding it up to three here on goodreads and amazon.
The book starts off very promising. A man steals a child and we are slowly figuring out why. Then, I don't know how far into the book we have to go, but we are introduced to a flashback that takes up three quarters of the book. So, basically the book changes. It's no longer is it about a man stealing a kid from a cult and it changes to a long coming of age story that I didn't really see coming. Now, people who know me will be saying, "But Nick, don't you LOVE Coming of Age stories???" To that I say YEAH! I LOVE Coming of Age stories.
It took me a awhile to figure out that we were in for a ride at that point. I was excited, buckling into my couch, because my couch has seatbelts for some reason, and was getting ready for a rollercoaster of a ride... then the story got REALLY freaking BORING! Half of the book is just typical kid stuff really. I was so bored that I unclicked my couch's seatbelt and let out a long yawn as the narrator went on and on about stuff I didn't really care about. Part of me was like, "Go back to the Man who stole the kid from the cult," but alas...
So, I'm interjecting here in the middle of my review to give you the flashback's synopsis... so... here ya go!
The Flashback part of the story is about Stoney, a boy in an abusive home, in a crummy town, whose only highlight in his life is a girl named Lourdes. Stoney has only one real true friend, and that's a old lady named Nora, who everyone in town thinks is a witch because she lives out in the woods. Nora gives warnings through cryptic stories and, in all honestly, was the best character in this freaking book! That's all you really need to know about the long-trifling flashback, that doesn't become important til your deep into the book.
I started this in October, hoping for a good Halloween read... This book has very little to do with Halloween, let me tell ya... You learn what the Halloween Man is later in the book, and then it isn't mentioned again... seriously! I mean, there is a moment the says something about it, but Nora's interesting story is thrown to the wayside. And the conclusion of this book is convoluted! Well, maybe not... but I was so bored at this point I just wanted it to be over with.
Now, with all the negatives out of the way, let me quickly say a few positive things about this book.
The writing is really, really good! That's why this is a two and a half star book for me. Douglas Clegg is a fabulous writer and I liked the way he tells a story. I can tell he has a lot of pros and I WILL be giving him a second chance. I think I'm going to read his coming of age story Neverland next, when I get around to it.
Overall, just to reiterate, Mr. Clegg is an amazing story teller, really! This story in particular just didn't work for me. I was bored and even though it had one or two heart pounding moments, it was overall boring and a very tiring book to get through.
June 15, 2018
Ο 27χρονος Στόουνι Κρόφορντ απαγάγει ένα 12 χρονο αγόρι με τη φήμη του Προφήτη και όλα δείχνουν ότι δεν έχει και τους καλύτερους σκοπούς. Ο λόγος βρίσκεται μερικά μόνο χρόνια πριν…
Δώδεκα χρόνια πίσω, στο Στόουνχεϊβεν στην τρυφερή ηλικία των 15, ο Στόουνι ερωτεύτηκε τη Λούρδη μέχρι που η ανέμελη σχέση τους πήρε την κατηφόρα όταν βρέθηκαν μπροστά σε ένα δίλημμα και ουσιαστικά η Κόλαση ξεχύθηκε όχι μόνο πάνω από τα κεφάλια τους αλλά κα σε όλη την πόλη με τους κρυψίνοες κατοίκους τους….
Θάνατος, αίμα, τρόμος, ιεροτελεστίες, συνθέτουν ένα θρίλερ που κοψοχολιάζει μόνο και μόνο για ένα λόγο. Δίπλα στην κακία και στο βασανισμό, στον πόνο, στην κακία και το μίσος ανθίζουν 2 παιδιά με μιαν αγάπη που θυμίζει Παράδεισο και πρωτόπλαστους, όνειρα και λουλούδια...
Δώδεκα χρόνια πίσω, στο Στόουνχεϊβεν στην τρυφερή ηλικία των 15, ο Στόουνι ερωτεύτηκε τη Λούρδη μέχρι που η ανέμελη σχέση τους πήρε την κατηφόρα όταν βρέθηκαν μπροστά σε ένα δίλημμα και ουσιαστικά η Κόλαση ξεχύθηκε όχι μόνο πάνω από τα κεφάλια τους αλλά κα σε όλη την πόλη με τους κρυψίνοες κατοίκους τους….
Θάνατος, αίμα, τρόμος, ιεροτελεστίες, συνθέτουν ένα θρίλερ που κοψοχολιάζει μόνο και μόνο για ένα λόγο. Δίπλα στην κακία και στο βασανισμό, στον πόνο, στην κακία και το μίσος ανθίζουν 2 παιδιά με μιαν αγάπη που θυμίζει Παράδεισο και πρωτόπλαστους, όνειρα και λουλούδια...
April 21, 2020
Another sweeping epic by Clegg, who manages to put a twist on some very established horror/halloween tropes. Our MC Stony is slowly revealed; at first at his current age of 27 or so, but most of the book concerns him at age 15 in the small town of Stonehaven. Clegg, as is common in his work, uses a wide range of flashbacks to develop the history of the main characters; some will love this, I found it a bit tedious at times. To tell the plot is to basically create one big spoiler, so I will just say that Stony and his relationship with his girl friend Lourdes has some issues that are not resolved in a non-horror type setting. Kudos to the big picture building, but meh on the excessive use of flashbacks.
June 9, 2024
Καλή προσπάθεια αλλά λίγο κουραστικό και κάποιες φορές βαρετό
March 13, 2015
Αρκετά περίεργο και ιδιαίτερο το βιβλίο του Ντάγκλας Κλεγκ που μόλις τελείωσα, δεν μπορώ να πω όμως ότι ξετρελάθηκα ή ότι θα το πρότεινα σε μη φανατικούς της σειράς βιβλίων τρόμου των εκδόσεων Οξύ. Και αυτό γιατί υπήρξε αρκετό μπέρδεμα χωρίς λόγο, πολλά μπρος-πίσω στην πλοκή και οι χαρακτήρες μου φάνηκαν κάπως επίπεδοι και αδιάφοροι. Σαν ιστορία έχει το ενδιαφέρον της και ως ένα σημείο θα τραβήξει την προσοχή του αναγνώστη, όμως στο τέλος ίσως τον κουράσει λιγάκι. Αυτό έγινε και με μένα.
Πως έχει η ιστορία: Πεδίο δράσης είναι το Στόουνχεϊβεν, μια μικρή παράκτια πόλη της Νέας Αγγλίας, που έχει μια μεγάλη ιστορία γεμάτη εφιάλτες και μυστικά. Ο δεκαπεντάχρονος Στόουνι Κρόφορντ ερωτεύεται την πανέμορφη Λούρδη Μαρία Καστίγιο και έτσι γίνεται το ακούσιο πιόνι σ'ένα σατανικό παιχνίδι που θα τον οδηγήσει στο απόλυτο κακό. Ο Στόουνι φαίνεται ότι κρατάει το κλειδί για το μυστήριο του Στόουνχεϊβεν και για τη δύναμη ενός ακατανόμαστου τέρατος που βρίσκεται φυλακισμένο σε μια καλοκαιρινή έπαυλη.
Ευτυχώς που υπάρχει και η περίληψη στο οπισθόφυλλο, γιατί δύσκολα θα έγραφα τέτοια ώρα μια δική μου που να βγάζει κάποιο νόημα. Όχι, βέβαια, ότι και αυτή λέει πάρα πολλά. Το βιβλίο έχει τις ανατριχιαστικές του στιγμές, λίγο υπερφυσικό τρόμο, μαυρίλα και σκοτεινή ατμόσφαιρα, μην περιμένετε κάτι το τρομερό όμως. Η γραφή είναι καλούτσικη και ευκολοδιάβαστη, βοηθάει στην γρήγορη ανάγνωση. Οι χαρακτήρες, όπως είπα στην αρχή, κάπως μονοδιάστατοι, δεν δέθηκα ιδιαίτερα με κανέναν από αυτούς.
Γενικά ένα ψυχαγωγικό βιβλίο τρόμου, ό,τι πρέπει για να περάσει καλά η ώρα, όμως πιστεύω ότι θα μπορούσε να ήταν καλύτερο. Αν το βρείτε πουθενά φτηνά, ρίξτε του μια ματιά.
Πως έχει η ιστορία: Πεδίο δράσης είναι το Στόουνχεϊβεν, μια μικρή παράκτια πόλη της Νέας Αγγλίας, που έχει μια μεγάλη ιστορία γεμάτη εφιάλτες και μυστικά. Ο δεκαπεντάχρονος Στόουνι Κρόφορντ ερωτεύεται την πανέμορφη Λούρδη Μαρία Καστίγιο και έτσι γίνεται το ακούσιο πιόνι σ'ένα σατανικό παιχνίδι που θα τον οδηγήσει στο απόλυτο κακό. Ο Στόουνι φαίνεται ότι κρατάει το κλειδί για το μυστήριο του Στόουνχεϊβεν και για τη δύναμη ενός ακατανόμαστου τέρατος που βρίσκεται φυλακισμένο σε μια καλοκαιρινή έπαυλη.
Ευτυχώς που υπάρχει και η περίληψη στο οπισθόφυλλο, γιατί δύσκολα θα έγραφα τέτοια ώρα μια δική μου που να βγάζει κάποιο νόημα. Όχι, βέβαια, ότι και αυτή λέει πάρα πολλά. Το βιβλίο έχει τις ανατριχιαστικές του στιγμές, λίγο υπερφυσικό τρόμο, μαυρίλα και σκοτεινή ατμόσφαιρα, μην περιμένετε κάτι το τρομερό όμως. Η γραφή είναι καλούτσικη και ευκολοδιάβαστη, βοηθάει στην γρήγορη ανάγνωση. Οι χαρακτήρες, όπως είπα στην αρχή, κάπως μονοδιάστατοι, δεν δέθηκα ιδιαίτερα με κανέναν από αυτούς.
Γενικά ένα ψυχαγωγικό βιβλίο τρόμου, ό,τι πρέπει για να περάσει καλά η ώρα, όμως πιστεύω ότι θα μπορούσε να ήταν καλύτερο. Αν το βρείτε πουθενά φτηνά, ρίξτε του μια ματιά.
December 4, 2016
Definitely worth a read. Struck me as a bit of a way station between Stephen King and Clive Barker. New England setting with a bit of sex and gore to boot. Starts with our protagonist involved in a kidnapping then flashes back to essentially reveal his motivation which fuels the bulk of the book. Initially I wasn't a fan of the flashback story but it really grew on me. The conclusion leaves a few loose ends and just seems to forget about some characters hence the dropping of a star. It does have a bit of a Graphic novel superhero origin story to it and made me wonder if a sequel was ever planned. Plan on checking more of Clegg after this
October 16, 2021
Wow!!! I mean. ...WOW!!!!
What an amazing epic novel! !!! I have read other books by Douglas but this one wouldn't let me go...I cancelled plans to stay home and finish this story because I had to know how it ended and I wasn't disappointed (tho a sequel would be awesome about Stony and his son...just sayin!) Douglas weaves a tapestry of horror between his pages and hooks you in and doesn't let go. I didn't want the story to end and would love to see it continue. Move over Stephen King. ..there is a new bad ass author in town!!!!!
What an amazing epic novel! !!! I have read other books by Douglas but this one wouldn't let me go...I cancelled plans to stay home and finish this story because I had to know how it ended and I wasn't disappointed (tho a sequel would be awesome about Stony and his son...just sayin!) Douglas weaves a tapestry of horror between his pages and hooks you in and doesn't let go. I didn't want the story to end and would love to see it continue. Move over Stephen King. ..there is a new bad ass author in town!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews